To whom it may concern
We observe with great concern that the Draft Declaration developed in the
UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Sub Commission
for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994
is weakened and undermined by various Nation States.
We are in full support to the request of the World's Indigenous Peoples,
to adopt the original text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.
The process must take into account the voices of the World’s Indigenous
Peoples, therefore Mr. Luis Chavez, the Chairman Rapporteur of the Working
Group should not present a “consolidated text” as if it was “close
to consensus.”
The hunger strike is a clear statement of the World's Indigenous Peoples
desperation- as to how the Draft Declaration is being reversed beyond any
possibility with which to give at least "minimum standards" required
for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.
We thank the High Commissioner on Human Rights of the UN, Mrs. Louise Arbourso,
for arranging a meeting between her representative and the hunger strikers,
so that the CHR could be informed of the concerns of the Indigenous Peoples
directly.
Kofi Annan's statement on the 3rd Session of the UN PFII, that one of the
highest priorities of the UN is "partnership in action" with Indigenous
Peoples must be implemented in the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples by acknowledging their fundamental needs and
rights to survive as peoples.
We also request that the Secretariat arrange for the hunger strikers to be
able to remain in the UN building during the entire week of the session.
Thank you very much for any efforts
Sincerely
Yvonne Bangert, Indigenous Peoples Department, GfbV-Germany
Rebecca Sommer, Representative to the UN, Indigenous Peoples Department,
GfbV - USA
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Tel.: +49/551/49906-0
Fax: +49/551/58028
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D-37010 Göttingen Göttingen, Dec. 1, 2004
